Can cooler

ABSTRACT

A can cooler includes a housing having a threaded mating mechanism disposed on a lowermost region of inner sidewalls of the housing and a bottom lid releasably secured to a bottom region of the housing, the bottom lid including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a seal circumferentially disposed therein, wherein the seal engages a can received within a top cavity of the housing. The lower portion of the bottom lid includes threads configured to releasably couple with the threaded mating mechanism of the housing. Further, a bottom surface of the can contacts a top surface of the bottom lid such that the seal engages a lowermost region of the can.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to can coolers, and morespecifically, to can coolers that do not require external devices forsecuring the can to a cooling casing.

Beverage cans are metal containers designed to hold a fixed amount of abeverage, such as soda, beer, fruit juice, tea, and so on. Worldwide,greater than 350 billion cans are produced per year, the majority ofwhich are made of aluminum. Unfortunately, metal is a good conductor ofheat and, once removed from cold storage, a chilled can of a beveragewill warm to the surrounding temperature very quickly.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, a can cooler is provided. The cancooler includes a housing having a threaded mating mechanism disposed ona lowermost region of inner sidewalls of the housing and a bottom lidreleasably secured to a bottom region of the housing, the bottom lidincluding an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portiondefining a seal circumferentially disposed therein, wherein the sealengages a can received within a top cavity of the housing.

In accordance with another embodiment, a can cooler is provided. The cancooler includes a housing having a threaded mating mechanism disposed ata distal end thereof such that the threaded mating mechanism extendsbeyond a distalmost end of the housing and a bottom lid releasablysecured to a bottom region of the housing, the bottom lid including anouter wall and an inner wall, the outer wall defining threads on aninner surface thereof and the inner wall defining a sealcircumferentially disposed therein, wherein the seal engages a canreceived within a top cavity of the housing.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a can cooler is provided. Thecan cooler includes a housing, an inner sleeve securedly fixed withinthe housing, and a seal circumferentially disposed within the innersleeve, wherein the seal engages a can received within a top cavity ofthe housing.

It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments are described withreference to different subject-matters. In particular, some embodimentsare described with reference to method type claims whereas otherembodiments have been described with reference to apparatus type claims.However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and thefollowing description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition toany combination of features belonging to one type of subject-matter,also any combination between features relating to differentsubject-matters, in particular, between features of the method typeclaims, and features of the apparatus type claims, is considered as tobe described within this document.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof,which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will provide details in the following description ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a can cooler, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view of a beverage can inserted into thecan cooler of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bottom lid securedlyattached to the housing of the can cooler, in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded view of the bottom lid and housing ofFIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bottom lid securedlyattached to the housing of the can cooler, in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3B illustrates an exploded view of the bottom lid and housing ofFIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, same or similar reference numerals representthe same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide fordifferent types of can coolers. In one embodiment, a can cooler includesan inner sleeve within a housing, as well as a seal contacting a bottomregion of the inner sleeve to secure a can within the housing. Inanother embodiment, a can cooler includes a housing and a bottom lidsecured to a bottom region of the housing, the bottom lid including aseal for securing a can to the housing. In yet another embodiment, a cancooler includes a housing and a bottom lid secured to a bottom region ofthe housing, the bottom lid having an outer wall and an inner wall, theouter wall defining threads and the inner wall having a seal forsecuring a can to the housing.

Most consumers prefer to consume drinks such as soda and beer while theyare cold. Canned or bottled drinks which have been chilled in ice chestsor refrigerators begin to warm as soon as they are removed from thechilled environment. In particular, on summer days, drinks warm up veryquickly in the hot sun.

Products have been designed to slow the heating process. Many consumersinsulate their can or bottle with a wrap such as neoprene or foam.Millions of these have been sold, proving a desire of consumers to keepdrinks cold. However, this wrap simply insulates and does not providerefrigeration or cooling of the beverage.

One product which attempts to refrigerate the beverage is a doublewalled mug which has a refrigerant between the walls. This refrigerantcan be frozen or chilled in a freezer prior to use. When the mug isremoved from the freezer, drinks may be poured into the mug to help themstay cold. To use this mug, the consumer must plan ahead to freeze themug for a period of time before use. This mug also eventually needs tobe re-frozen before re-use by returning it to a chilled environment.This takes planning and time between uses. This product is therefore notvery practical for several reasons, e.g., for outdoors people drinkingbeverages or multiple beverages from cans or bottles which are takenfrom an ice chest.

As a result, the desirability of consuming a can of beer or soda in achilled state, regardless of the temperature of the environment in whichthese beverages are consumed, has prompted the development of furtherapparatuses that insulate these chilled beverages during consumption.For example, another such popular apparatus is a can holder molded intoan insulative cup configuration suitable for receiving a beverage can.Such insulative cups are most popular outdoors where an uninsulatedbeverage would quickly absorb the heat of the environment. However, suchinsulative cups suffer from the same disadvantages mentioned aboveregarding other products.

As a result, the exemplary embodiments of the present inventionintroduce new can coolers with different designs for more effectivelycooling beverage cans.

It is to be understood that the present invention will be described interms of a given illustrative architecture; however, otherarchitectures, structures, substrate materials and process features andsteps/blocks can be varied within the scope of the present invention. Itshould be noted that certain features cannot be shown in all figures forthe sake of clarity. This is not intended to be interpreted as alimitation of any particular embodiment, or illustration, or scope ofthe claims.

FIG. 1A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a can cooler, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 1Billustrates an exploded view of a beverage can inserted into the cancooler of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the can cooler 10 has a housing 12 and an innersleeve 14. The inner sleeve 14 is positioned within the housing 12. Theinner sleeve 14 assumes the shape of the interior walls of the housing12. In one embodiment, the inner sleeve 14 is permanently affixed withinthe housing 12. In another embodiment, the inner sleeve 14 is releasablysecured to the housing 12. The inner sleeve 14 has a seal 16 extendingcircumferentially thereon. Stated differently, the seal 16 projectsinwardly from a sidewall of the inner sleeve 14. The seal 16 is parallelto the bottom wall 18 of the housing 12. In one example, the seal 16 ishorizontally placed within the inner sleeve 14. In another example, theseal 16 can be angularly placed within the inner sleeve 14.

The seal 16 is positioned on a lower portion of the inner sleeve 14. Inone example, the seal 16 is positioned approximately ½ of an inch fromthe bottom surface 15 of the inner sleeve 14. In another example, theseal 16 is positioned approximately ¼ of an inch from the bottom surface15 of the inner sleeve 14. The placement of the seal near the bottomregion of the housing 12 advantageously provides for a better and moresecure gripping effect between the seal 16 and the beverage can 5 tostabilize the beverage can 5 within the housing 12.

The can cooler can be referred to as a beverage cooler or coolingapparatus. The housing 12 can also be referred to as a receptacle, abody, a cylindrical body or an enclosure or a base member having abottom wall 18. The housing 12 defines one continuous element or memberor component. The inner sleeve 14 can also be referred to as an insertor inner vessel. The seal 16 can also be referred to as a ring or rubberring or gasket or rib or annular seal. The seal 16 can be, e.g., anO-ring seal.

The housing 12 can be made of, e.g., stainless steel.

Referring to FIG. 1B, in operation, a beverage can 5 is inserted intothe opening or cavity 7 of the inner sleeve 14 of the housing 12. Theouter walls of the beverage can 5 engage the inner walls of the innersleeve 14 such that the beverage can 5 engages the seal 16. The innerdiameter of the inner sleeve 14 is configured to snugly accommodate thebeverage can 5. At that point, a user applies a slight downward force tothe beverage can 5 such that the bottom of the beverage can 5 contactsthe top surface 15 of the inner sleeve 14 (thus overcoming the frictionpresented by the seal 16). The seal 16 operates to secure the beveragecan 5 to the inner sleeve 14 within the housing 12.

In an alternative embodiment, a double seal can be positioned within thelower portion of the inner sleeve 14. The double seal includes a firstseal and a second seal in parallel to each other and separated from eachother by a small distance.

In another alternative embodiment, three seals or three ribs can bepositioned within the lower portion of the inner sleeve 14. The ribs canbe equally spaced apart from each other by a small distance.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the seal 16 may not define onecontinuous circumferential element. Instead, the seal 16 may define aring with segmented or discontinuous or disconnected or disjointedelements/segments.

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bottom lid securedlyattached to the housing of the can cooler, in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 2B illustrates anexploded view of the bottom lid and housing of FIG. 2A, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the can cooler 12A includes an upper portion anda lower portion. The upper portion 12′ defines the outer sleeve whereasthe lower portion 20 defines a bottom lid. The bottom lid 20 isreleasably secured to the outer sleeve 12′.

The outer sleeve 12′ is a cylindrical body. A lowermost inner portion ofthe outer sleeve 12′ includes a threaded mating mechanism 13 forreceiving the threads 24 of the bottom lid 20. The outer sleeve 12′ canalso be referred to as the housing 12′. The threads 24 are defined on anexterior surface of the bottom lid 20.

The bottom lid 20 includes an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 24.The upper portion 22 incudes a smooth surface, whereas the lower portion24 includes the threads. The upper portion 22, however, also includes oraccommodates the seal 16 therein. The seal 16 circumferentially extendsaround an inner area or region of the upper portion 22 of the bottom lid20. The seal 16 is parallel to a top surface 27 of the bottom lid 20. Inone example, the seal 16 is horizontally placed within the upper portion22 of the bottom lid 20. In another example, the seal can be angularlyplaced within the upper portion 22 of the bottom lid 20.

When the bottom lid 20 is engaged to the outer sleeve 12′, the seal 16is positioned or disposed around or adjacent to a lower portion of theouter sleeve 12′. In one example, the seal 16 is positionedapproximately ½ of an inch from the top surface 27 of the bottom lid 20.In another example, the seal 16 is positioned approximately ¼ of an inchfrom the top surface 27 of the bottom lid 20. The bottom surface of thebeverage can 5 contacts a top surface 27 of the bottom lid 20 such thatthe seal 16 engages a lowermost region of the beverage can 5. Theplacement of the seal near the bottom region of the outer sleeve 12′advantageously provides for a better and more secure gripping effectbetween the seal 16 and the beverage can 5 to stabilize the beverage can5 within the outer sleeve 12′.

The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A illustrates the releasableengagement or coupling between the bottom lid 20 and the outer sleeve12′. The threads 24 of the bottom lid 20 engage or mate or couple withthe threaded mating mechanism 13 defined within a lower portion of theouter sleeve 12′. Additionally, the upper portion 22 of the bottom lid20 with the seal 16 rests adjacent the inner wall of the outer sleeve12′. The upper portion 22 is vertically aligned with the sidewall of theouter sleeve 12′, whereas the seal 16 is vertically aligned with theopening 25 of the outer sleeve 12′. The upper portion 22 can also bereferred to as a circumferential wall. The outer sleeve 12′ can also bereferred to as a housing.

Moreover, the topmost portion of the outer sleeve 12′ can be referred toas the proximalmost portion or region and the bottommost portion of theouter sleeve 12′ can be referred to as the distalmost portion or region.The proximalmost end and the distalmost end of the outer sleeve 12′remain open or each include a cavity. The bottom lid 20 threadablyattaches to the distalmost region or area of the outer sleeve 12′. Thethreads 13 are disposed or positioned or defined on a lowermost innersidewall of the outer sleeve 12′.

The seal 16 is also vertically offset from the threaded mating mechanism13 of the outer sleeve 12′ and vertically offset from the threads 24 ofthe bottom lid 20. The seal 16 is not positioned on or next to thethreads 24. The seal 16 is separate and distinct from the threads 24 ofthe bottom lid 20. The seal 16 is configured to be above the threads 24of the bottom lid 20. Thus, the seal 16 is not coplanar with the threads24. Moreover, a diameter of the seal 16 is less than a diameter of thelower portion 24 having the threads.

In operation, the bottom lid 20 is threadedly secured to the outersleeve 12′, and then a beverage can 5 is inserted into the opening orcavity 25 of the outer sleeve 12′. The outer walls of the beverage can 5engage the inner walls of the outer sleeve 12′ such that the beveragecan 5 engages the seal 16. At that point, a user applies a slightdownward force to the beverage can 5 such that the bottom of thebeverage can 5 contacts the top surface 27 of the bottom lid 20 (thusovercoming the friction presented by the seal 16). The seal 16 operatesto secure the beverage can 5 to the outer sleeve 12′ threadedly securedto the bottom lid 20.

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bottom lid securedlyattached to the housing of the can cooler, in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 3B illustrates anexploded view of the bottom lid and housing of FIG. 3A, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the can cooler 12B includes an upper portion anda lower portion. The upper portion 32 defines the outer sleeve, whereasthe lower portion 40 defines a bottom lid. The bottom lid 40 isreleasably secured to the outer sleeve 32.

The outer sleeve 32 is a cylindrical body. The outer sleeve 32 can alsobe referred to as a housing 32. A lower portion of the outer sleeve 32includes a threaded mating mechanism 33 extending away from the outersleeve 32 for receiving the threads 43 of the bottom lid 40. Stateddifferently, the threaded mating mechanism 33 is disposed at a distalend thereof such that the threaded mating mechanism 33 extends beyond adistalmost end of the outer sleeve 32. The threaded mating mechanism 33can also be referred to as a projection member or threaded projectionmember or threaded projection component outside the confines of theouter sleeve 32.

The bottom lid 40 includes an outer wall 42 and an inner wall 44. Theinner wall 44 is separated from the outer wall 42 by a space 46. Theouter wall 42 includes internal threads 43 for mating with the threadedmating mechanism 33 of the outer sleeve 32. The inner wall 42 includesthe seal 16. The seal 16 circumferentially extends around an inner areaor region of the inner wall 44 of the bottom lid 40.

The cross-sectional view of FIG. 3A illustrates the releasableengagement or coupling between the bottom lid 40 and the outer sleeve 32via the threaded mating mechanism 33. The threads 43 of the outer wall42 engage or mate or couple with the threaded mating mechanism 33 of theouter sleeve 32. Additionally, the inner wall 44 of the bottom lid 40with the seal 16 rests adjacent the inner wall of the outer sleeve 32.The inner wall 44 is vertically aligned with the sidewall of the outersleeve 32, whereas the seal 16 is vertically aligned with the opening 45of the outer sleeve 32.

The seal 16 is also vertically offset from the threaded mating mechanism33 of the outer sleeve 32 and vertically offset from the threads 43 ofthe outer wall 42. The seal 16 is not positioned on or next to thethreads 43. The seal 16 is separate and distinct from the threads 43 ofthe outer wall 42. The seal 16 is configured to be above the threads 43of the threaded mating mechanism 33 and the threads 43 of the outer wall42. Thus, the seal 16 is not coplanar with the threads 43. Moreover, adiameter of the seal 16 is less than a diameter of the outer wall 42including the threads 43.

In an alternative embodiment, the seal 16 may not define one continuouscircumferential element. Instead, the seal 16 may define a ring withsegmented or discontinuous or disconnected or disjointedelements/segments.

In operation, the bottom lid 40 is threadedly secured to the outersleeve 32 via the threaded mating mechanism 33, and then a beverage can5 is inserted into the opening or cavity 45 of the outer sleeve 32. Theouter walls of the beverage can 5 engage the inner walls of the outersleeve 32 such that the beverage can 5 engages the seal 16. At thatpoint, a user applies a slight downward force to the beverage can 5 suchthat the bottom of the beverage can 5 contacts the top surface 37 of thebottom lid 40 (thus overcoming the friction presented by the seal 16).The seal 16 operates to secure the beverage can 5 to the outer sleeve 32threadedly secured to the bottom lid 40 via the threaded matingmechanism 33.

The threaded mating mechanism 33 is positioned directly between theouter wall 42 and the inner wall 44. In other words, the threaded matingmechanism 33 is positioned or placed within the space 46 defined betweenthe outer wall 42 and the inner wall 44. The inner wall 44 has a heightgreater than a height of the outer wall 42. Moreover, the seal 16 isconfigured to be positioned above a topmost thread of the threadedmating mechanism 33. Thus, the seal 16 is horizontally offset from thethreaded mating mechanism 33.

In conclusion, different can coolers have been presented. In oneembodiment, a can cooler includes an inner sleeve within a housing, aswell as a seal contacting a bottom region of the inner sleeve to securea can within the housing. In another embodiment, a can cooler includes ahousing and a bottom lid secured to a bottom region of the housing, thebottom lid including a seal for securing a can to the housing. In yetanother embodiment, a can cooler includes a housing and a bottom lidsecured to a bottom region of the housing, the bottom lid having anouter wall and an inner wall, the outer wall defining threads and theinner wall having a seal for securing a can to the housing.

While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novelfeatures of the present principles, it will be understood that variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of themethods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations ofthose elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the samefunction in substantially the same way to achieve the same results arewithin the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should berecognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shownand/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementationof the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed,described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter ofdesign choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only asindicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

It should also be understood that the example embodiments disclosed andtaught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications andalternative forms. Thus, the use of a singular term, such as, but notlimited to, “a” and the like, is not intended as limiting of the numberof items. Furthermore, the naming conventions for the variouscomponents, functions, parameters, thresholds, and other elements usedherein are provided as examples, and can be given a different name orlabel. The use of the term “or” is not limited to exclusive “or” but canalso mean “and/or”.

Having described preferred embodiments, which serve to illustratevarious concepts, structures and techniques that are the subject of thispatent, it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart that other embodiments incorporating these concepts, structures andtechniques may be used. Additionally, elements of different embodimentsdescribed herein may be combined to form other embodiments notspecifically set forth above.

Accordingly, it is submitted that that scope of the patent should not belimited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited onlyby the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A can cooler comprising: a housing having a threaded mating mechanismdisposed on a lowermost region of inner sidewalls of the housing; and abottom lid releasably secured to a bottom region of the housing, thebottom lid including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upperportion defining a seal circumferentially disposed therein, wherein theseal engages a can received within a top cavity of the housing.
 2. Thecan cooler of claim 1, wherein the seal is positioned approximately ½ ofan inch from a top surface of the bottom lid.
 3. The can cooler of claim1, wherein the seal is positioned approximately ¼ of an inch from a topsurface of the bottom lid.
 4. The can cooler of claim 1, wherein thelower portion of the bottom lid includes threads configured toreleasably couple with the threaded mating mechanism of the housing. 5.The can cooler of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the can contactsa top surface of the bottom lid such that the seal engages a lowermostregion of the can.
 6. The can cooler of claim 1, wherein the upperportion of the bottom lid is vertically aligned with sidewalls of thehousing and wherein the seal is vertically aligned with the top cavityof the housing.
 7. A can cooler comprising: a housing having a threadedmating mechanism disposed at a distal end thereof such that the threadedmating mechanism extends beyond a distalmost end of the housing; and abottom lid releasably secured to a bottom region of the housing, thebottom lid including an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer walldefining threads on an inner surface thereof and the inner wall defininga seal circumferentially disposed therein, wherein the seal engages acan received within a top cavity of the housing.
 8. The can cooler ofclaim 7, wherein the seal is positioned approximately ½ of an inch froma top surface of the bottom lid.
 9. The can cooler of claim 7, whereinthe seal is positioned approximately ¼ of an inch from a top surface ofthe bottom lid.
 10. The can cooler of claim 7, wherein the threads ofthe outer wall are configured to releasably couple with the threadedmating mechanism of the housing.
 11. The can cooler of claim 7, whereina bottom surface of the can contacts a top surface of the bottom lidsuch that the seal engages a lowermost region of the can.
 12. The cancooler of claim 7, wherein the upper portion of the bottom lid isvertically aligned with sidewalls of the housing and wherein the seal isvertically aligned with the top cavity of the housing.
 13. The cancooler of claim 7, wherein the threaded mating mechanism of the housingis securedly positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall. 14.The can cooler of claim 7, wherein the inner wall has a first height andthe outer wall has a second height, wherein the first height is greaterthan the second height.
 15. A can cooler comprising: a housing; an innersleeve securedly fixed within the housing; and a seal circumferentiallydisposed within the inner sleeve, wherein the seal engages a canreceived within a top cavity of the housing.
 16. The can cooler of claim15, wherein the seal is positioned approximately ½ of an inch from abottom surface of the inner sleeve.
 17. The can cooler of claim 15,wherein the seal is positioned approximately ¼ of an inch from a bottomsurface of the inner sleeve.
 18. The can cooler of claim 15, wherein abottom surface of the can contacts a bottom surface of the inner sleevesuch that the seal engages a lowermost region of the can.
 19. The cancooler of claim 15, wherein the seal includes a plurality of seals. 20.The can cooler of claim 15, wherein the seal is a segmented seal.